Awning



Aug. l,

w. 6. BROWN AWNING 3 Sheets-,Sheet 1 Filed June 30, 1948 W. G. BROWN Aug. 1,4950 v AWNING 5 Sheets-sheet 2 Filed June 30, 1948 0 V W J w, 1:122 H Aug. 1, w. e. BROWN .AWNING 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 30, 1948 William 6.31%! I Patented Aug. 1, 1950 AWNING William Brown, Harrisburg, Pa. Application June '30, 1948', 'SerialNo. 36,140

14 Claims.

This invention relateswtowawnings andparticu larly to awnings comprising. a plurality of relatively movable vanes: or slats. i

It is an object of' this invention to provide an awning comprising a pluralityot relatively movable vanes ors'latsythat may be opened. tan-wise or collapsed-fan-wise to thus render the awnin operative or inoperative; i

It is a further obiect of this invention-to provide an awning comprising fan-wise movable vanes capable of? being adjusted to extend outwardly' from a building opening or outwardly and downwardly therefrom i It is another object ofthis invention toprovide an awning of the class: described having: means whereby thevanesarereadily andeasily movable and yet held against accidental displacement.

It is a further object of thisinventionvtoprovide an awning of the' class described c'omprising a plurality 'of groups 0t fan-wiseoperable vanes whereby theawning may be collapsed or extended only in-part, if so desired.

It is a still further" object ofthis invention to provide an awning oi the type described is simple in construction-and'operation, economical to manufacture and easily installed.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds connec tion with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view-of one embodiment i of the awning of this invention showing in vanes in extended position.

Figure2 is a front elevationalviewof the-awn- 5mg shown in Figure 1; r l

Figure 3 is a front elevationsimilar-to that of Figure :2 but with the awning shown in partially collapsed position;

Figure i is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 '016 Figure 2 with certain parts shown in elevation and other parts omitted; r t

Figure 5 is a perspective view of theroperating cords for the awning of thisinvention;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a'modification of the present awning;

Figure 7- is aside elevational view'of a modified awning construction;

Figure 8* is a perspective View of a stillfurther Figures 12 and 13 are perspective views of pore tions of modifications of the pivotal supports for the guidingmeans of this invention.

Theraform of awning shown in Figures l to 5 comprises. av support or pivot member t which may be: in theform of a screw threadedly engaged in the upper portion of a window frame 2. The support member I- may be supported on a Window frame or wall of a building :inany desired manher and provided with a plastic or other enlarged head or cap. The :cap is preferably removable to facilitate assembly of the awning or replacement oi vanes. A plurality of similar vanes-3 rounded at their ends, taper toward their rear uppermost ends and are each provided with anopening 41 therethrough adjacent the tapered end. Each of the openings 4 is of larger diameterthan the diameter of the shank portion of the support I whereby eachsvane 3 is individually supported by thesaid support I for independent pivotal movement about the axis of the shank of the member l and for independent tilting movementrelative thereto about any axis trans verse to the said shank. The mounting is such that each vane 3 is universally movable about its connection with the supporting means I-. The number of vanes employed will be such that when the awning is open fan-wise to the position of Figures 1 and 11 they will completely cover the generally semi-circular area shown and will still provide for some overlapping at their adjacent edges asclearly indicated in Figure 2a The vanes may be of any desired material such as aluminum wood or plastics.

The vanes described are preferably divided into two groups. One group (shown at. the left of Fig. 1) having its rearmost or lowermost vane 5' fixed in some suitable manner (notshown) in position at the rear of the awning structure so that it is incapable of tan-wise movement out wardly. The remaining vanes of the saidgroup are-attached, adjacent their free ends, to a flexible strap like element {i whereby the separation between the free ends of adjacent vanes of said group is limited substantially as indicated in Figure 1. The strap element 6 may be a fabric Web, leather, chain, cord, or any other suitable means to prevent the vanes of the group from separating sufiiciently to leave an opening therebetween. The group of vanes shown at the right of Figure 1 are likewise joined by a flexible or other limiting means l and the innermost vane 8' ct this group is restrained by means (not shown)v so-that it likewisecannot move outwardly away fromythe wall of the building. Thetermb nal or end vanes 9 and II] of the groups described, may thus be manipulated about the supporting means I to open or close their respective groups in a fan-wise manner.

A guide structure I I, shown in Figures 3 and 4, has a generally semi-circular rod or tube which is pivoted as at I2 to the wall of the building or other structure on an axis extending generally transverse to the axis of the support I and somewhat therebelow. The guide II will preferably be made of aluminum tubing since it is light in weight and highly resistant to corrosion; however, any suitable material may be used. An adjusting rod I3 is pivoted to the mid-portion of the guide I I and extends generally downwardly into a tube-like structure I4 in which it is telescopically received. The tube-like structure I4 is preferably pivoted as at 5 to a window sill or other fixed portion of the building. A wing nut I6 is threaded through one wall of the tube-like structure I4 into frictional engagement with the outer surface of the rod 53 therein whereby the rod I3 maybe adjusted longitudinally of the tube-like structure I4 to effect pivotal adjustment of the guide I! about the axis of the pivot I2. When the vanes of the awning are in the extended position shown in Figure 1, it will be apparent that adjustment of the rod I3 in the element I4 will effect positioning of the guide II in such manner that the vanes may assume the positions indicated in Figures 10 or 11 thereby changing the aspects and functioning of the awning to suit varying conditions.

A second semi-circular element It is pivoted on an axis I'I parallel to and preferably above the axis I2. The semi-circular structure I 6 is preferably of substantially the same'size and dimensions as the guide II and is provided with an outwardly extending finger I8 at the mid portion thereof. A spring I9 is attached to the free end of the finger I8 and extends to holding means 2!] on the element I4. The holding means 20 may be in the form of downwardly directed hooks or may be openings in the element I4 whereby the lowermost end of the spring I9 may be engaged with selected holding means 20 to thereby vary the tension of the said spring. Any suitable manner of attaching the lowermost end of the spring I9 to the structure I4 may be employed, but it is preferred that such means be adjustable to vary the tension in the spring.

The spring just described, thus functions to urge the hold-down structure I6 toward the guide II and it is contemplated that the free ends of the vanes 3 extend outwardly between the structure I6 and the guide II. By the arrangement de-- scribed, means are provided to frictionally engage the vanes and hold them in any desired position of fan-wise adjustment and to also hold the vanes in the desired position against action of wind or the like.

Figure shows only a portion of the awningof this invention, the remaining portions being broken away for clarity of illustration and description. According to the showing of Figure 5, the guide II is provided with a pair of pulleys or sheaves 2| and 22 near its mid-portion and sheaves or pulleys 23, 24, '25, 26, 21, 28, 29, 30, 3I and 32 are mounted in fixed relation to the window frame in the general locations shown.

A pair of cords 33 and 34 extend from a cleat or similar holding means 35, on one side of the window frame,'upwardly and over the pulleys 25 and 26 respectively. Cord 33 then extends over the pulleys 21, 32 and 22 and has its. end attached to the end portion of the vane 9. The cord 34 extends over the pulleys 26, 23 and 2I and thence to the free end of the vane I0 to which it is attached. By pulling downwardly on both cords 33 and 34 adjacent the cleat 35, the end vanes 9 and Ill of each group will be moved fan-wise outwardly toward each other and toward the position they occupy in Figure l.

A pair of cords 3G and. 31 are similarly trained over the remaining pulleys and have their free ends attached to the ends of the vanes 9 and Ill whereby pulling of the said cords 3B and 31 will effect fan-wise closing movement of the vanes 9 and II] from the position of Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 3 or to any position intermediate those two and to a more completely collapsed position than that of Figure 3. The cords 36 and 31 are preferably wound upon a cleat or similar structure 38 as desired. In addition to the manipulations described wherein each pair of cords are manipulated simultaneously, it will be apparent that when the awning is in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, the operator may, if desired, pull only one of the cords 36 or 3'! to thereby close only one of the previously described groups of vanes, leaving the other group fully extended. Any desired combination of manipulations may be resorted to to simultaneously or independently to completely or partially open or close either or both of the groups of vanes, all in a manner that will be readily apparent. The operating cords described are not shown in all of the figures of the drawings; they are omitted for clarity of illustration. Clearly, other arrangements of cords or other mechanisms may be employed to operate the described awnings.

Figure 6 illustrates a modified form of awning similar in all respects to that previously described, except that the tubular or rod-like structure I6 and the guide I I (not shown) are of generally rectangular shape rather than semi-circular and the vanes 3' are of varied lengths whereby they will provide an awning of the generally rectangular shape shown when fully extended.

A further modification is shown in Figure 7 wherein the adjusting rod I3 of Figures 1 to 5 and the tube I4 of those figures is replaced by an adjusting rod 40 pivoted as at M to the guide II near the mid portion thereof. The rod 40 extends outwardly beyond the said pivot 4I and has attached thereto the lowermost end of a spring 42 which corresponds to the spring I9 previously described, and performs the same function. Means may be provided to adjust the tension of the spring 42, if desired. From the pivot M the rod 4|! extends upwardly and'rearwardly and is telescopically received within a tubular element 43 pivoted at 44 to the window frame or Wall of the building. By means of a wing nut or set screw 45, the distance between the pivots M and 44 may be adjusted to thereby position the guide I I and the hold-down structure I6 in the angular posi-' tions shown in Figures 10 or 11 and referred to in connection with Figures 1 to 5. The vanes 3 (only one of which is shown in this figure) extend from the support I downwardly over the guide II and under the structure IS in the same manner as the vanes described in connection with Figures 1 to 5. This modification offers the advantage of telescopic adjustment means extending upwardly under the awning and not interfering with a clear view through the window or other opening protected by the awning.

Figure 8 illustrates a still further modification amazes.-

5. wherein the guide H and hold-down structure t6 are similar to those described previously except that the adjusting means and tensioning spring are located at the lateral extremities thereof rather than at the forward mid-portions as pre-- viously described. In this modification, apair of brackets 50 and 5! support a guide rod 52 generally parallel to the window frame 2. Sl'idably adjustable on the guide rod 52' is a block 53 having a set screw 54 threaded therethrough whereby the block may be moved to and clamped. in any desired position of adjustment along the guide.

rod 52. A link 55 is pivoted as at 56' to the block. 53 and extends upwardly and outwardly to. the guide H to which it is pivoted at 51 on the inner side thereof. The hold-down structure I5 ispro vided with a laterally extending finger 58 welded; or otherwise rigidly attached thereto. A tension spring 59 extends from adjacent the outermost end of thefinger 53' to an attaching means carried by the block 53. As shown, the spring 59 is attached at its lowermost end to the pin 56 which constitutes the pivot for the link 55. It is contemplated that the adjusting structure and spring just described be duplicated on the opposite side of the awning whereby the guide ll may be positively adjusted to different positions with"- out flexibility thereof acting to distort the guide. In other words, a link similar to the link 55' will hold the laterally opposite side of'the guide I! in the desired position of adjustment. It will be apparent that upon loosening the set screw 54 and moving the block 53 up or down on the guide rod 52, the link 55 will eifect pivotal adjustment of the guide II about the axis 12 and the spring 59 will be effective to urge the hold-down structure t8 toward the guide H. The vanes 31- are indicated in dotted line in this figure-and extend downwardly and outwardly from. the support I. and between the members. H and H55 in the same. manner as described previously in connection with other modifications.

Figure 9 illustrates a modified form of supportfor a plurality of vanes: 65. The awning: of the. present invention may be readilyadapted' to configurations other than those described. and elons gated. awnings. extending a substantial distance. alongthe face of a buildingmay' be provided by pivotally supporting vanes ill on individual pins" 5! carried by a. bracket or other supporting element 6.2. It will be. apparent that a group of. vanes so arranged may be joined at theirctree ends by flexible limiting straps; similar to the: straps 6 and 1 described in connection with Figure: l and.

that the vanesfill may be grouped: in any desired. manner. If desired, the central portion of an elongated awning could be made upof vanes supported in the manner of Figure 9 and at the ends thereof a group of the vanes could be supported on the same pin 5i and moved fan-wise. thereto in the same manner as the individual. groups of Figure 1.

In all of the modifications described above, it is contemplated that means similar to the guide. H and the hold-down structure it be provided and an arrangement of cords and pulleys similar to that described in connection with Figure 5 is contemplated.

Figure 12 illustrates a modified structure for pivotally supporting a vane supporting and guid ing element 1 and an opposed vane hold-down means T8. The guide it and: the hold-down: M will preferably be of generally semi-circular construction, similar to that described in connection with Figure 1, but will have their end per-- tions turned inwardly'asiat 12 andas' at: 1.3.. 'IYhe i n-turned end portions 12. and. 13 are received. under bent-up portions 15 and 16 of. an attach.- ing plate M. The plate. 1.4 is attached to. the windowframe 2 by nails, screws, or: the like 1-1.. The

opposite ends of the elements H1 and 1|. are similarly constructed and pivotally mounted to the other side of the window frame in. exactly the same manner as. described above. Adjustment of.

- the guide Ill about the axis 12 maybe accom-- plished. by any of the means illustrated in Figures 1, 4, "t or 8, and the hold-down H1 may be. urged toward the guide 10 in the manner illus.- trated? in Figures. 1, 'Z, or 8. In all. other-respects. anawning construction in accordance with Figure 12 will be similar to those previously described. This. construction; offers the advantage of being attachable directly to the window frame: and? would be desirable in caseswhere it isincon' venient or impractical to mount the guide and.

hold-down structures: to the walls of the build- Figure 13 illustrates a further modified form. of pivotal: mounting for a guide 811 and a holddown structure 81... The plate 82 maybe identical with the plate described in connection with; Figure 12 but is so arranged that the open ends of the bent portions 85 are. directed mwardly toward the window-opening. In this modification: the ends of the guide 80 and the hold'edown 81 are. provided with return bends" 85. to properly direct the ends of the said elements into the ockets formed by the portions 85..

It will be clear to those skilled in. the art that many" modifications besides those speciiically described. may be resorted to and that other arrangements of cords. and. pulleys may be pro vided to effect the desired manipulation. of the groups of vanes. Likewise, other forms of adtjiusting means will be apparent, which adjusting meanscmay replace the means; I33, M of Figure. 4, it-43: of Figure 7,. or BAP-5t of Figure 8. In.- stead of. the: spring means described for urg ing the hold-down structure it: toward. the guide lit, it would be clearly feasible to effect the. same result with. springs coiled around the pivot pins. at 5:1. and acting. on. the. structure. Hi, or the corresponding element. of the other modifications... Such a coiled spring: would: function in the same; manner as. a conventional spring hinge. In some instances, springs could be omitted: entirely if the element. iii. is. made sufficiently heavy.

While a limited. number of specific embodie 1 11611135 of the invention have been shown and:

described. herein,. it is contemplated that other embodiments fall. within the scope of the present invention and the invention. is to be lim. ited only by the appended claims.

l claim:

1.. An. awning; device comprising a; plurality of superimposed vanes individually pivotable: about av common. axis. at. one end thereof, means defining said axis. mounted on. a. supporting structure,. said. plurality of vanes being further pivotable about an. axis. transverse to said common axis, a guiding structure carried by said sup.- porting structure" supporting and guiding the other end. of each. of said vanes in its pivotal movements. about. said. axis.

2. An awning device comprising a plurality of. superimposed. vanes individually pivotable about a common axis at one end thereot, means: defini ng said axis. mounted an a supportingstru'cture, said plurality of? vanes. being. further pivotable:

about anaxistransyerse to. said cmnmcm axia,

aguiding structure carried by saidsupporting structure supporting and guiding the other end of each of said vanes in its pivotal movements about said axis, said guiding structure being pivotally mounted on said supporting structure on an axis transverse to said common axis.

3. An awning device comprising a plurality of superimposed vanes individually pivotable about a common axis at one end thereof, means defining said axis mounted on a supporting structure, said plurality of vanes being further pivotable about an axis transverse to said common axis, a' guiding structure carried by said supporting structure supporting and guiding the otherend of each of said vanes in its pivotal movements about said axis, said guiding structure being pivotally mounted on said supporting structure on an axis transverse to said common axis, and additional means bearing on the said other ends of said vanes and urging said vanes into contact with said guiding structure.-

4. An awning device comprising a plurality of superimposed vanes, said vanes being mounted for individual universal pivotal movement about adjacent ends whereby said vanes may be pivoted about said ends to open fan-wise, means limiting the relative fanwise movement of adjacent vanes, means guiding the free ends of said vanes in their fan-wise movement, said guiding means including an element supporting the free ends of said vanes for sliding movement thereover.

5. An awning device comprising a plurality of superimposed vanes, said vanes being mounted for individual universal pivotal movement about adjacent ends whereby said vanes may be pivoted about said ends to open fan-wise, means limiting the relative fan-wise movement of adjacent vanes, means guiding the free ends of said vanes in their fan-wise movement, said guiding means including an element supporting the free ends of said vanes for sliding movement thereover, said element being pivotally mounted on a substantially horizontal axis below the said adjacent ends of said vanes.

6. An awning device comprising a plurality of superimposed vanes, said vanes being mounted for individual universal pivotal movement about adjacent ends whereby said vanes may be pivoted about said ends to open fan-Wise, means limiting the relative fan-wise movement of adjacent vanes, means guiding the free ends of said vanes in their fan-wise movement, said guiding means including an element supporting the free ends of said vanes for sliding movement thereover, said element being pivotally mounted on a substantially horizontal axis below the said adjacent ends of said vanes, and a further element over the free ends of said vanes, resilient means urging said further element toward said supporting element whereby to frictionally grip the free ends of said vanes the-rebetween.

'7. An awning device comprising a plurality of superimposed vanes having aligned openings adjacent an end thereof, supporting means passing through said aligned openings, said supporting means being of less diameter than'said' opening's whereby said vanes are independently universally pivotable about said means, means limiting the relative separation between the other ends of adjacent vanes, and means confining the said other ends of said vanes to a predetermined path of movement. i

8. An awning device comprising a plurality of superimposed vanes having aligned openings adjacent an end thereof, supporting means pass- 8 r ing through said aligned openings, said supporting means being of less diameter than said openings whereby said vanes are independently universally pivotable about said means, means limiting the relative separation between the other ends of adjacent vanes, means confining the other said ends of said vanes to a predetermined path of movement, the said confining means being pivoted about an axis transverse to said supporting means.

9. An awning device comprising a plurality of superimposed vanes having aligned openings adjacent an end thereof, supporting means passing through said aligned openings, said supporting means being of less diameter than said openings whereby said vanes are independently universally pivotable about said means, means limiting the relative separation between the other ends of adjacent vanes, means confining the said other ends of said vanes to a predetermined path of movement, the said confining means comprising a generally semi-circular guide rod adjustably tiltable about an axis transverse, to and displaced from said supporting means and a second generally semi-circular guide rod tiltable about an axis parallel to said transverse axis, resilient means urging said second guide rod toward said first guide rod, the said other ends of said vanes extending between said guide rods.

10'. An awning device comprising a first plurality of superimposed vanes individually pivotable about a common axis at one end thereof, means defining said axis mounted on a supporting structure, said plurality of vanes being further pivotable about an axis transverse to said common axis, a guiding structure carried by said supporting structure supporting and guiding the other end of each of said vanes in its pivotal movements about said axis, a second plurality of superimposed vanes on said common axis and guided by said guiding structure, and means relatively operable to efiect movement, either separately or in unison, of said first and second plurality of vanes about said common axis.

11. An awning device comprising at least two sets of superimposed vanes, said vanes being in dividually universally pivotally movable about adjacent ends whereby said vanes may be pivoted about said ends to open fan-wise, means limiting the relative fan-wise movement of adjacent vanes of each set, means guiding the free ends of said vanes in their fan-wise movement, said guiding means including an element slidably supporting the free ends of said vanes, and means operable to selectively efiect opening and closing fan-wise movement of the vanes of each set, said means being further operable to selectively efiect said movements of said sets of vanes in unison and individually.

12. An awning device comprising a first group and a second group of superimposed vanes having aligned openings adjacent an end thereof, supporting means passing through said aligned openings, said supporting means being of less diameter than said openings whereby said vanes are independently universally pivotable about said means, means limiting the relative separation between the other ends of said first group of adjacent vanes, and similar means limiting the relative separation of the other ends of the said second group of vanes, means confining the said other ends of said vanes to a predetermined path or" movement, separate means for effecting separation of the said other ends of the vanes of each group, said last-named means being operable either separately or in unison.

13. An awning device comprising separate groups of superimposed vanes having aligned openings adjacent an end thereof, supporting means passing through said aligned openings, said supporting means being of less diameter than said openings whereby said vanes are independently universally pivotable about said means, means limiting the relative said separation between the others ends of the separate groups of adjacent vanes, means confining the said other ends of said vanes to a predetermined path of movement, the said confining means comprising a generally semi-circular guide rod adjustably tiltable about an axis transverse to and displaced from said supporting means and a second generally semi-circular guide rod tiltable about an axis parallel to said transverse axis, resilient means urging said second guide rod toward said first guide rod, the said other end of said vanes extending between said guide rods, an end vane of each of said groups being fixed against pivoted movement about the axis of said supporting means, and independently operable means connected to the vane of each group most remote from said end vanes, said means being operable to effect movement of said vanes in either direc- 10 tion along the path defined by said confining means.

14. An awning device comprising a plurality of superimposed vanes individually pivotable about a common axis at one end thereof, means defining said axis mounted on a supporting structure, said plurality of vanes being further pivotable about an axis transverse to said common axis, a guiding structure carried by said supporting structure supporting and guiding the other end of each of said vanes in its pivotal movements about said axis, said guiding structure being pivotally mounted on said supporting structure on an axis transverse to said common axis, and means for holding said guiding structure in selected positions of adjustment about said transverse axis.

WILLIAM G. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 602,967 Wells Apr. 26, 1898 873,580 McElroy Dec. 10, 1907 1,481,439 Sellers Jan. 22, 1924 

